On 4 June BIMCO, together with ICS, IMCA, ITF and OCIMF, had arranged a symposium about piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. The symposium came to the conclusion that the Nigerian piracy problem occurs in a small area and can be solved if Nigeria wants it.

At the IMO’s 101st meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee, BIMCO’s Head of Maritime Security – Jakob P. Larsen – spoke in a direct fashion about the serious situation posed by piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and especially off the coast of Nigeria.

London: Friday, 7 June 2019. Members of the shipping community, Flag States and Agencies from Gulf of Guinea gathered at the Headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for a day-long symposium on Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea. The event, co-sponsored by BIMCO, IMCA, ICS, ITF and OCIMF, featured speakers from regional maritime agencies as well as shipping officials, academics and military staff. The shipping industry, along with seafarer groups, organized the event to highlight the continuing danger to seafarers operating in the Gulf of Guinea.

A fresh annual report from the International Maritime Bureau shows that attacks in West Africa helped push piracy numbers up in 2018. In terms of military and law enforcement, an international operation is not complicated, so what is needed above all is the will to act.

BIMCO’s Documentary Committee has agreed a new standard Cyber Security Clause that requires the parties to implement cyber security procedures and systems, to help reduce the risk of an incident and mitigate the consequences should a security breach occur.